During the afternoons we complete our topic learning. During topic children complete their Science, History, Geography, RE (Religious Education), DT (Design & Technology), Art, Music, PSHE (Personal, Social, Health Education), PE and Computing learning. 

Science

We have been learning about the six animal groups:

Amphibians, Reptiles, Fish, Mammals, Birds and Insects.

We had to sort the animals into the different groups. 

We also grouped them according to what they eat. Children had to decide whether the animals were Herbivores, Carnivores or Omnivores. Herbivores are animals which only eat plants, fruit or vegetables. Carnivores are animals that only eat meat and Omnivores are animals which eat both meat and plants.

The children also grouped animals based upon their physical features such as whether they have wings or legs, fur or feathers. They also looked at the structure of some common animals and labelled the features on a given image.

We have been on an autumn walk and looked at deciduous and evergreen trees. We have learnt the difference between the two. We have spoken about seasonal changes.

Geography

During our Geography lessons we have been learning the names of the world's 5 oceans and 7 continents and where they are located on the world map. We have used songs as a part of this which you may have heard your children singing at home.

5 Oceans: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Arctic.

7 continents: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, Australia.

We have also been looking at and identifying physical and human features in our world. Physical features are features in our world which are natural and not made by humans such as cliffs, mountains, seas and soil. Human features are things in our world made by humans such as houses, factories and shops.

In autumn 2,  we learnt about the 4 countries of the United Kingdom and located them on a map. We also used Google Earth to identify some human and physical features. 

We have observed the weather over a week and recorded the rainfall and temperatures each day. 

History

In history we have been learning about Remembrance and why some people wear a poppy.

We answered the big question Why do we wear poppies?

We also learnt about Edith Cavell’s life.

We also learnt about the history of toys and how they have changed over the years. We had the opportunity to play with some old toys and talk about them. Some of the children even rode a penny-farthing! 

We answered our big question How have toys changed?

RE (Religious Education)

Autumn 1 - God (Christianity) 

We leanrt about God as the Creator, Gods special people: Abraham and Moses as well as Adam and Eve. 

Autumn 2 - Community (Christianity)

In this half term we learnt about the Christian Coummunity which included Prayers, Worships, Festivals: Christmas, Easter and Penecost. 

DT (Design Technology)

The children completed two different DT projects this term. Their first project was to design and make a moving picture of an underwater habitat with a sea creature that could move. The second project was to design and make a boat which could floats. The second project enabled us to do some cross curricular work with DT and Science as children explored the concept of waterproof materials before choosing what material so use for their boat body (the hull). 

Both projects required the children to follow a set of instructions, design their product before beginning the making of it and also evaluate on completion. During the design part of each project children were assisted in making informed decisions about the materials and equipment they would need. Whilst the evaluation process helped children to develop the ability to see both strengths and weaknesses in their own work.  

Art

Printing

We looked at the work of Australian artist Sophie Munns a mixed media artist. Sophie loves nature and living things which is shown in her work as she creates images of plant and seed cross sections. We then discussed the changes to trees across different seasons and used autumn colours to print an autumn tree using broccoli. 

Collage

We looked at the work of Kurt Schwitters a German artist who believed in creating unique pieces of artwork from discarded goods. He wanted to use the world's waste and transform them from things which had been considered waste into something which could bring pleasure and joy to others. Thinking of the work of Kurt we shredded left over pieces of coloured paper to create rainbow fish using collage.

Music

This term we have been looking at how pulse, rhythm and pitch work together. Our focus song was: Hey You. The children have been using both their voices and the Glockenspiels in response to the song.

Key Terminology:

Pulse - a regular beat in a piece of music.

Rhythm - movement marked by the regular repetition of sounds.

Pitch - the word used to describe how 'low' or 'high' a note sounds. 

PSHE (Personal, Social, Health Education)

Our Autumm 1 topic is: My and My Relationships

We started the term considering rules - what rules are and why we need them in life.

We then moved on to explore feelings - what feelings are, how we can identify feelings, how different feelings make us feel and how we can improve the way we are feeling.

We then talked about friends - what friends are, what makes friendships special and how we make friends. We ended the term discussing why it is important to listen in terms of our safety, helping us to learn and the vital part it plays in our friendships.

Our Autumn 2 topic is: Valuing Difference

Our learning objectives are:

Identify the differences and similarities between people;

Empathise with those who are different from them;

Begin to appreciate the positive aspects of these differences.

Explain the difference between unkindness, teasing and bullying; 

Understand that bullying is usually quite rare

Explain some of their school rules and how those rules help to keep everybody safe

Recognise and explain what is fair and unfair, kind and unkind; 

Suggest ways they can show kindness to others.

Identify some of the people who are special to them; 

Recognise and name some of the qualities that make a person special to them

Recognise that they belong to various groups and communities such as their family; 

Explain how these people help us and we can also help them to help us

PE

Indoor PE - autumn 1

This term during our indoor PE lessons we have been developing our fundamental skills:

• Balance, Stability and landing 
• Moving at different speeds
• Changing direction and dodging 
• Jumping, hopping and skipping
• Combining the different types of jump
• Using a skipping rope

Autumn 2 - Dance

Pupils develop physical, social, emotional and thinking whole child objectives.

Pupils will explore travelling actions, movement skills and balancing. They will understand why it is important to count to music and use this in their dances. Pupils will copy and repeat actions linking them together to make short dance phrases. Pupils will work individually and with a partner to create ideas in relation to the theme. Pupils will be given the opportunity to perform and also to provide feedback, beginning to use dance terminology to do so.

Autumn 1 - Outdoor PE

This term during our outdoor PE lessons we have been working on invasion skills:

• Dribbling
• Passing
• Moving with a ball
• Teamwork
• Moving into space
• Defending

Autumn 2 - Invasion

Pupils develop the basic skills required in invasion games such as sending, receiving and dribbling a ball. They develop their understanding of attacking and defending and what being 'in possession' means. They have the opportunity to play uneven and even sided games. They learn how to score points in these types of games and how to play to the rules. They work independently, with a partner and in a small group and begin to self-manage their own games, showing respect and kindness towards their teammates and opponents

Computing

During our computing lessons this half term we have been learning what technology is, naming different types of technology and identifying how we can use it responsibly. The children have also been taught how to log on to their individual computing accounts and developing their mouse and keyboard skills. 

We have also been learning about algorithms. An algorithm is a list of instructions, or rules, that make something happen or work something out. We had an 'unplugged' lesson where we followed instructions to draw a monster.